* PARSHA Q&A *
In-Depth Questions on the Parsha and Rashi's commentary.
Parshas Naso
For the week ending 7 Sivan 5756 (14 Sivan 5756)*
24 & 25 May 1996 (31 May & June 1 1996)*
*week ending dates for locations outside of Israel
===========================================================================
All Ohr Somayach Publications are now available in Adobe Acrobat and
Microsoft Word formats from our web site: www.jer1.co.il/orgs/ohr
===========================================================================
Parsha Questions
1. The Levi'im were responsible for the transport of the Mishkan. What
other service performed by them is mentioned in this Parsha?
2. On which day did Moshe teach the command to send those who are tameim
out of the camp?
3. Name the three camps in the desert.
4. Who was sent out of each of the camps?
5. A person stole from another and swore that he was innocent. When he
later confesses his guilt, what are his financial obligations?
6. What member of the Jewish People has no heir?
7. Who determines which Kohen gets the Matnos Kehuna (gifts that must be
given to the Kohanim)?
8. What does the Torah promise a person who gives the Kohen the Matnos
Kehuna?
9. In which four ways is the Minchah offering of the Sotah (a woman
accused of adultery) different from other Minchah offerings?
10. What does the Kohen do to the hair of a Sotah in order to disgrace her?
11. When a Sotah who is guilty of adultery drinks the water, she dies in a
very specific fashion. What happens to the adulterer?
12. How does the nazir keep his body holy?
13. What sin does a nazir commit against himself?
14. What is the meaning of the blessing, "May Hashem bless you and guard
you"?
15. What is the meaning of the blessing, "May Hashem lift up His
countenance upon you"?
16. What was the role of the Nesi'im (Princes of the Tribes) in Egypt?
17. Why did the Bnei Gershon receive only two wagons, while the Bnei Merari
received four wagons?
18. In what order did the Nesi'im offer their gifts during the dedication
of the Mishkan?
19. The Tribe of Yissachar was the second tribe to offer their gifts. Why
did they merit this honorable position?
20. From where did the voice of Hashem emanate?
Bonus QUESTION:
Why was the honorable duty of taking care of the Aron given to Kehas son of
Levi (Bamidbar 4:4-6) instead of to Levi's firstborn, Gershon, who was
assigned the task of taking care of certain parts of the Mishkan (Bamidbar
4:24-26)?
I Did Not Know That!
The Mitzvah for the Kohanim to bless the Bnei Yisrael begins with the
words: "Ko Tevarchu..." -- "In this way you shall bless..." The gematria
of the word "Ko" is 25; the word "Bracha" occurs 25 times in the Torah, and
the word "Shalom" also occurs 25 times. Therefore, Bircas Kohanim begins
with Bracha and ends with Shalom.
Ba'al HaTurim
===========================================================================
Recommended Reading List
Ramban
5:2, 5:6 Organization of this Parsha
5:20 Waters of the Sotah
6:11 Sin of the Nazir
6:24 Blessings of the Kohanim
Sforno
7:13 Gifts of the Nesi'im
Sefer Hachinuch
362 Tumah and Kedusha
364 Confession
365 Marital Peace
366 Sotah Offering
374 Appropriate Asceticism
378 The Blessing of the Kohanim
===========================================================================
Answers to this Week's Questions
All references are to the verses and Rashi's commentary, unless otherwise
stated
1. 4:47 - The Levi'im would sing and play music with cymbals and harps to
accompany the sacrifices.
2. 5:2 - The day the Mishkan was erected.
3. 5:2 - The Camp of the Shechina was in the center, surrounded by the
Camp of Levi which was surrounded by the Camp of Yisrael.
4. 5:2 - A Metzora was sent out of all three camps. A Zav was permitted
in the Camp of Yisrael but excluded from the two inner camps. A person
who was tamei from contact with the dead had to leave only the Camp of
the Shechina.
5. 5:6-7 - He pays the principle plus a fifth to the victim, and must
bring a Korban Asham.
6. 5:8 - A convert who dies without leaving a Jewish descendent.
7. 5:10 - The one who gives it.
8. 5:10 - Great wealth.
9. 5:15 - Her offering is: 1) barley, 2) unsifted flour, 3) lacking oil.
4) without frankincense.
10. 5:18 - He uncovers it, because it is disgraceful for a married woman to
have her hair exposed to the public.
11. 5:22 - He dies a similar death.
12. 6:8 - By avoiding contact with the dead.
13. 6:11 - He abstains from enjoying wine.
14. 6:24 - "May Hashem bless you" that your property may increase, "and
guard you" from robbery.
15. 6:26 - "May He suppress His anger."
16. 7:2 - They were the Jewish overseers who were beaten because they
helped the Jewish People (Shemos 5:11).
17. 7:7,8 - The burden of the Bnei Gershon was lighter than that of the
Bnei Merari.
18. 7:11,12 - According to the order in which their Tribes traveled in the
desert.
19. 7:18 - The Tribe of Yissachar was well versed in Torah. Additionally,
they proposed the idea that the Nesi'im should offer gifts.
20. 7:89 - The Voice issued from Heaven to the place between the Cherubim
and from there it filled the Ohel Moed.
Bonus ANSWER:
If the duty of taking care of the Aron -- the prime representation of Torah
-- was given to Levi's firstborn, people might think that Torah is received
as an `inheritance,' as is the Crown of Royalty and the Crown of Kehuna.
The Crown of Torah, however, is available to be the property of anyone who
toils in learning the Torah and rightly deserves it.
Kli Yakar
===========================================================================
** LEARN & TOUR IN ISRAEL THIS SUMMER FOR AS LITTLE AS **
** $599 **
===========================================================================
The Jewish learning exchange summer & winter break programs, based at the
Ohr Somayach`s central campus in Jerusalem, blend a rich exploration of
Jewish law and logic, politics and philosophy in modern Israel with
internationally acclaimed scholars & tours from the Golan Heights to
subterranean tunnels beneath the Western Wall.
Conversational Hebrew, optional.
Summer '96 dates: June 13th - July 28th,
optional free week and a half from July 28 - August 8.
Cost, including airfare from New York: As low as $599 with scholarship
from JLE endowment. Additional scholarships may be available for students
who permanently reside in New York CIty, Long Island and Westchester or who
attend schools in these areas.
For summer program information and an application:
phone: 800-431-2272 or 212-213-3100
e-mail: rzcorlin@aol.com
web: www.jer1.co.il/orgs/ohr/web/jle/index.htm
===========================================================================
For Information on Yeshiva Year Abroad at The CENTER, contact
The CENTER for Torah Studies
E-Mail: center@ohr.israel.net
World Wide Web: www.jer1.co.il/orgs/ohr/web/yya/index.htm
===========================================================================
SUBSCRIBE!
to one of the many weekly "lists" published by Ohr Somayach Institutions:
weekly - Summary of the weekly Torah portion
dafyomi - Rav Mendel Weinbach's insights into the Daf Yomi
ask - The Rabbi answers YOUR questions on Judaism
parasha-qa - Challenging questions on the weekly Torah portion
os-special - All the SPECIAL publications produced by Ohr Somayach
os-alum - "B'Yachad" - the Ohr Somayach Electronic Alumni Newsletter
judaismo - Spanish-Language newsletter on the Parsha & Judaism
month - Seasons of the Moon - The Jewish Year through its months
Ohr Somayach NEVER charges for any of the above lists.
To subscribe, send the message: subscribe {listname} {your full name}
to: listproc@jer1.co.il
==========================================================================
Dedication opportunities are available for Parsha Q&A.
Please contact us for details.
===========================================================================
Jewish L EEEEEEEE Prepared by the Jewish Learning Exchange of
J L E Ohr Somayach International
J L E 22 Shimon Hatzadik Street, POB 18103
J L Exchange Jerusalem 91180, Israel
J L E Tel: 972-2-810315 Fax: 972-2-812890
J J L E Internet: ohr@jer1.co.il
JJJJ Learning EEEEEEEE Web: www.jer1.co.il/orgs/ohr
==========================================================================
Written and Compiled by Rabbi Eliyahu Kane
General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman
Production Design: Lev Seltzer
==========================================================================
(C) 1996 Ohr Somayach International - All rights reserved.
This publication may be distributed to another person intact without prior
permission. We also encourage you to include this material in other
publications, such as synagogue newsletters. However, we ask that you
contact us beforehand for permission, and then send us a sample issue.